Osbortf



gnith futra gtnt ffim' IMPROVEMENT IN INSTRUMENT FOR. ADMINISTRATION OF ANESTHETIGS.

igz ,tlgztult referat i in tigrst fttters' rtmt :mt mailing part nt ilzt amo.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, OSBORN WILLSOX, of Aurora, in the county of Kane, and vState of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Instrument for the Administration of Nitrous Oxidc and other Ansthetics; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specificationtin which- Figure 1 is a plan viewof the instrument. Figure 2, a'side elevation. ,igure 3, a longitudinal sectioual elevation as indicated by the line taken in the plane y of fig. 1'.

Figure 4, a bottom view in detail of top plate of the instrument. Like letters in the different figures of the drawings indicate like parts. v The4 nature of my invention consists in the construction. of an instrument with inhaling and e'x'haling-tubes, provided with valves, working automatically a'nd alternately iu opening and closing theltubes by the respiration of the patient, and a spring-valve and air-tube for regulating the adminstration of the nitrous oxide and other aneesthetics.

'To enable any one skilled in the art to make and use my inventio'n,`I will proceed to describe its'construction and operation.:

A is the stock of the instrument, of a suitable length and width; B, the month-piece; C' 0, the inhaling and exhaling-tubes. These tubes are secured to a plate, D, which plate is fastened on to the ends and sides of the stock by screws a. E' is the air-tube, above which is the spring-valve E. This valve is made round like the tube, and formed with a shoulder, under which the spiral spring b, surrounding the tube and valve, comes against, so as to keep the valve up. A suilicient space is allowed between the tube and valve for the admission of air into the tube, which-is shut off by pressing the valve down on the tube. The stock is made with a cavity, F, to receive the supporting and connecting parts of thetube-valves, (which will be presently described,) as well as to admit of a. free communication of the tubes and air-tube with the month-piece. c care the tubevalves, with rods, d d, connecting with them, and properly balanced 'and supported by the fulera e e. These rods are embraced by the arm f of the rod g, attached to thespring-valvc, so that on pressing down the valve the tnbe-valves will operate automatically and alternately in opening and closing the tubes when administering nitrous oxide and other anaesthetics.

Operation.

The patient, after being seated in the chair, with the operator to the right of him and the assistant to the left, is requested to introduce the mouth-piece of the instrument into his month, and breatheuraturally through' the same, the assistant holding the instrument. The operator now closes patient's nose, and partially encircles his lips with his thumb and iingers, to prevent his inhaling air. 'He is then Watched by the assistant, and at a convenient opportunity, or at the proper time, the spring-valve E is pressed down on the air-tube E', shutting off the air from it, and the patient, almost without knowing it, inhales gas through the inhaling-tube C' from a reservoir properly connecting therewith, containing the gas, and exhales the gas from his lurigs through the exhaling-tube C into another reservoir or gasometer, where it undergoes purification before being used again. It will bo observed that as soon as the spring-,valve E is pressed down, the valves c c, which tightly close the tubes, become released. The respiration of the patient then causes the valves to act automatically, clos ingand opening the tuhes ulternately, perrnitting the gas-to bc inhalcd and exhaled through the tubes, as above described. When suthcient gas has been administercd to the patient, the instrument is laid aside to enable the lassistant to fassst the operator, if necessary, in taking care of the patient, as sometimes, in the use of the nitrou's oxide, the putient labors under' a mental hallucinution' of mind, such as fear, misapprehension, tc. i

In adminstering the nitrous oxide it is absolutely necessary that it should be free from other gases; consequently any inaccuracy of action in the valres by which the air is ndmitted would defeat a successful operation of the instrument. As not much nitro-us oxideiisused np in one inhalatiomit being so rich in Oxygen, it follows, if the air is adinittcd the gas willhefwns'ted or lose its proper effect. Now, almost all valves in other instruments work by gravity, and when there is anything like force or resistance to overeom'e, theyflutter, and hence do not close immediately; consequ'cn'tlynir is admittcd, and the eifect is as abovcfltated. And, moreover,

when the assistant drops the instrument with such valves, they do not close themselves, which is very desirable, for sometimes he must drop it instantly to look after patient, and as there is little time to close stop-cocks or arrange elamps, the gas, is wasted. In my instrument all this is entirely obviated, for as soon as the springv'alvois released or let up, either during operation or When instrument is dropped, the valves Will bc closed immediatcly. Again, as the patient will sometimes experience a feeling akin to suifocation at first, by letting the spring-valve'up, air will be admitted through the air-tube, and the patient Will be relieved, which is better than releasing his nostrils from the pressure of the fingers, (for him to inhalc the air,) as they contract a little, and do not take in the air frcely, as at the mouth. As success depends much upon theexolusion of the air, emptying the lungs first Will be found to contribute greatly to this result. With other instruments the gas must be turned on or otl` by stop-coeks, which is always ineonvenient, and sometimes 'very diiiicult for the operator. Even if the patientunderstands (which he frequently does not) what is meant byemptying the lungs, he sometimes becomes alarmed, making it necessary for the operator to drop the instrument at onceto attend to the patient. And furtlier, in the operation of other instruments, the patient inhales and exhales into a'bag containing seven or" eight gallons of gas only, while in mine he inhales from a reservoir containing from forty to one hundred/gallons of gas, and never breathes again the deleterious gas, it being exhaled, after its inhalation, into the gasometer for purification, when it can be made use of again.

In using chloroform or e'ther with :my instrument, a funnel or two-mouthed bottle may bc used lby being inserted in the inhaling-tube. If afunncl is used, a proper lid or cork is provided, and a Sponge, saturated with the chloroform or other, is inserted inside. w

The advantages of my instrument in the use of the above-named. ansthetics 'will be obvious. First, I attain eeonomy in the use of the ansthetic by preventing its evaporation from exposure to the atmosphere in the administration of it, as heretofore, consequently not only effeeting a saving of the anthetic, but by its freedom from exposure, enable the operator to administer it freely without inhaling any ofritrhimself. Second,- by closing and opening the spring-valve, air can beadrnitted alternately with the ansthetic, and thus relievev o the patient of any feeling akin to suifocation. Third, by taking in the anzcsthetic-at the month instead of at the nose, will cause less irritation of mucous membrane. Fourth, by a graduated soalc at remote'end of jar or funnel, the operator may ascertain how much and how rapidly the patient is inhaling the anzesthetic.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters I Patent, is'- 1. The construction of an instrument with inh'aling and exlialing-tubes, provided with valves, Working i automatically and alternately in opening and closing thetuhes by the rospiration of the patient, substantially in the manner and for the purposes as herein specified.

2. Providing the instrumentwith a spring-valve and air-tube for regulating the'admini'stration of the nitrous oxide and other ansthetics, substantially in the manner and for the purposes as herein specified.

3. The construction and arrangement of stock A, month-piece B,`inhaling and exhaling-tubes C'.C, plate D, air-tube E', valve E, spiral spring b, valves c c, rods d ol, fulera ee, armf, and rod g, substantially in the manner and for the purposes as herein specified.

osBoRN WILL'soN.

Witnesses:

J. D. FAHNnsrocx, ORVILLE B. MEIRILL. 

